Propagation
Take semi hardwood cuttings from summer to autumn and including a heel from the main branch. Remove a branchlet from the main stem by cutting or tearing; include a piece of stem bark.

Strip lower leaves and wilting tips with a sharp knife then insert cuttings 25mm (1in) into the media, place in cold frame.
Plants can be layered during winter.

General pruning information
This plant requires little pruning as it maintains a compact habit. Prostrate species may be lightly trimmed to contain but avoid cutting back to old wood, as it will not regenerate.


Botanic information
Leaf: The adult leaves are scale-like and juvenile leaves are awl shaped with a pointed apex. There is a light blue stomatic band on upper surface and when crushed the smell is unpleasant.

Flower: The terminal male flowers are united into oblong catkin-like strobili and the female flowers have up to 8-valvate scales that contain 1 to 2 ovules and are arranged on a short lateral branch, appearing during spring.

Fruit: The small globose female cones purple to plum colour with 4 to 6 scales. The small seed is not commonly seen and the plant is normally reproduced vegetatively.